Electrotherapeutic device



July l0, 1945. M CRQSSE ET ALV 2,379,884

ELECTRO- THERAPEUTIC DEVYI CE Filed Dec. 9, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. MHRE'HRET RSSEI BYHLFRED FEERTE www4 ATTORNEYS.

July ,-10, 1945. M. cRossE ETAI. 2,379,884

ELECTRO-THERAPUTIC DEVICE Filed Dec. 9, 1941 2 sheets-sheet a` 'l z2 17 Agg.. I

/ INVEN'roRs.

MHRQHRET DRCIESEI 6 BY .HLFRED RUBERTS f ATTORNEYS.'

Patented July 10, 1945 N11N OFFICE ELECTROTHERAPEUTIC DEVICE Margaret Crosse'and Alfred Roberts, New York, N. Y. I

`Application December 9, f1941, Serial No. 422,221

Va claims. (c1. 25o- 36) This invention relates to improvements in electro-therapeutic devices andhas for an object the provision in such devices of the timing vof the energization of the primary transformers in `which.

windingsV is controlled byan oscillating thermionic .Y

tube.

Another object of theinvention isthe provision in an electro-therapeutic device, of a specialiron core induction transformer having thereon two windings, one of which is connected to the plate of a thermionic tube and the` other of which is connected to the control grid of said tube, thereby inductively coupling `said elements. Suitable constants included in the circuits limit `the oscillationsto'a fairly low rate.` The transformer also carries a" secondary winding to which the output terminals are connectedone output ter-` minal being connected directly to the winding and the other terminal being o o ing arm of apotentiometerbridging said winding. A furtherfobject of the invention is the provision, in an electro-therapeutic device, of a motor driven commutator carrying' a plurality of series of segments all connected to a collector y ring thereon, brushes beingv provided for contacting said collector ringfandfor` each of said series, and switching means associated with said brushes and a source of current whereby an operator may selectively control the periodicity of the intervals during which energy is supplied to said device.`

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious to those skilled in the art and in part p be pointed out hereinafter,

In the accompanying drawings which are given by way of example, Figure 1 is a perspective view of` one `form of our yelectro-therapeutic device with control paneleiposed to view. Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the device shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side view taken alongthe line 3-3 of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the device. o o -V Referring rst to Figure 4, an induction transformer 9 carries a primary winding I4, a grid winding I 3, and asecondary or output-winding I5.` A thermionic tube 8 has its cathode I2 connected to the secondary 2|` of a transformer 1 and thereby energy is furnished for heating said cathode. `The. transformer 1 has one side of its primary connected to one prong of an attachment plug 6 via a wire 38 and its otherend connected to afeederwire A31.V `The other prong of the attachment plug 6 is" connectedto a switch arm 23. The switch arm 23 is preferably connected in tandem with a, switch pose ofA `which will presently` described.`

connected to the movarm 24, the purr `of the tubell.` 39 at the point `.An electric motor is bridgedacross the wires 31 and 38"and is mechanicallyconnected through suitable reduction gearing (notshown) to a cylinder 6I. The cylinder "6I is formed of insulating material and has mounted thereon a collector ring 21. Spaced apart from the collector ring, 21 is a set of three metallic segments 3| equally spaced about thesurface of the cylinder.

apart from the segments 3l is a second set of segments 33 consisting of two segments of prel0` determined lengths circumferentially spaced 1801o apart.

A third set consisting of a single segment 35 is axially spaced apart from said second set. Each and everyone of the segments referred to above is electrically connected I contacted `bythese segments during `each revolution of the cylinder.`

This brush is connected to the 'switch point N.

A brush 32 bears onthe y cylinder inthe path traversed by the three segments 3I and is successively contacted by these segments asthe cylinderrotates. This brush is connected to theswitchpoint F. l A brush"30 bears on the collectorring 21 and connected via a wire 39 to one terminal of the primary winding I4.l The other terminal of the primary Vwinding I 4Iis connected to the plate Il The wire 31 connects to the wire 29, a lamp 26 Ibeing connected therebetween. I `The `grid winding I3 has one terminal connected to thecathode 1I2 of the tube 8, and the other terminalis connected to the grid I0. I

The secondary of the transformer 9 has one end thereof connected to a terminal I1.

moving arm I9 is connected to the terminal Iii.` The terminals I6 the at- ``"llhe cabinet, generally designated by the\nu meral 40, has a control panel 4| which is normally coveredfand protected by a hinged lcover 42. This y cover istshowninfthe open position in Figure 1, and whenclosed by swingingthe cover upwardly fAxially spaced by means of a conductor I p 21a to the collector ring 21.

The Winding I8 of a potentiometer is bridged across the ends l of thewinding I5, and the 45` Y and ,I1 are preferably sockets w ch accommodate I on its hinges its cover may be locked into position by a catch 43. A door 44 is hingedly connected to the cabinet 40 and secured by a catch 431. Secured to the top of the cabinet is a carrying handle 45. The door 44 gives access to the interior of the cabinet, which interior is divided by means of a partition 45 into an upper chamber- 41 and a lower chamber 48. The mechanism is positioned in thev upper chamber 41 and is protected by'a plate 49 which is secured therein in any suitable mannerfor example, by means of screws 50. The lower chamber 48 and the space I between the door 44 are provided for containing the attachments or applicators and the attachment cords, a stud 52 being provided to loop the cords over.

The control panel carries the sockets IB and n l1 into which the attachment and/or applicator cords may be plugged. For convenience vduplicate sockets IIicL and lla are provided, ld` being connected internallyto the socket I5, and Ila'being connected't'o the socket I1. A shaft 53 connecting the switch arms 23 and 24 has secured thereto a knob 54, which in Figure 1 is shown -in the foffposition The panel carries a scale the points of which "are marked Slow, NormaL and Fast these corresponding to 'l the "S, N and F in connectionwith Fig-v ure 4; The terms low rate,l lowperiodg slow rate," etc., used in this specification may be taken to meanithat theoscillator has a periodicity of from 250 to 300 cycles per second.

UWe 4are of the opinion that the above low periodicity causes muscular contractions at a rate approximately 'as follows:

yWhen'the lknob"54"is in the position marked` Slowj there are approximately twelve contractions `of the -muscles per' second, twenty-four when' the` knob 'is in the Normal position, andr tlriirty-six'wht-:nthe*knobv is in the Fast posi- The control panel also carries a jewel 55 which is in-aligmnentwith thelamp 25,so that when the latter is lightedthejewel is illuminated. y' The potentiometerihas itsmoving arml9` mounted on arshaft'56 whichprojectsthrough' y rate.

.denserv it is obvious that for low capacities we may use'two or more condensers in series.

With the applicators in position and their cords plugged into the sockets I6 and I1v the' knobl may be adjusted by turning the same to the right, as viewedin Figure ,1to increase the 'current supplied to theapplicators, ,orturned to the left to decrease the current Vsupplied ,to the applicators. This current will, due .to theA commutator action, be deliveredito lthe appli" cators vinternally and at a comparatively slow To increase this rate the knob 54 may `be turned to the position indicated onrthe panel as NormaL whereupon the impulses will be doubled. For a further increase in the rate the knob may be turned'to the Fast, whereuponthe im.-

pulses'will be deliveredk at `three timesithe rate thepanel `lll-and `carries on its outer end a con'- trol knob 5l, the pointer 51a of which traverses ascale 58. The Aelectrodes may 4consist ofilexible metallic platesjwheretheareas `of the patientsbodyto be treated are'large, or` the' 'electrodesl may consist'of small 'rig`id"plates`, where small areas 'orthebody are to be treated. vThese plates are' electrically connected tothe terminals llandl'l-orllaandiIla.'

y Operation To operate the device the plug'I is insertedV in aconvenient outlet and theswitch knob- 54 is turnedJto the right, as'wiewed in Figure l, to

either one ofthe three positions-indicated on the.

panel. For example, if -it is turned to Slow described in the first instance.

In practice we have foundv thatlforgeneral all aroundl use it is kpreferable to set'theknobLlIlto the'position marked"Normal, and to'use' the Slow and Fast position under Vother con'di` tions or forl other phases of treatment,` Although we VshowV in thef example herein" given the use of a thermionic 'tube in which the .lamenty is used as jthe .cathode itV is fobvous .that

other-types of tubes may be used .regardlesslof whether thelament or heater isthe.cathodeor whether'` the "tube has aninternallyV heated cathode therein.

It isalso obvious that many other changes may be'madein the arrangementsherein shown and describedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention asset forthlin'the annexed the-switch arm 23 connects onesideof-the line to one terminal off the motor 25 and connects one side of -theprimary 20 totheline.V 'Thewire-BS is also connected to the line with the lamp 26 in series. This causes the secondary 21 ofthe transformer I- to supply heatingV energy to the cathode I2. At the same `timothe motor 25 starts rotating Vand causes the cylinder l38 icone stituting a commutator). to'rotate. Once-during eachrevolution of the commutator the segment 35 picksup energyirom the brush36 (the switch arm 24 havingebeen moved tofthe position-Sl by movement of the knob '54 above described) What is claimed ist. j i "1; Inl an electroftherapeuticv device, .an iron core inductionV transformerj'having a secondary winding to which applicatorsareto be connected, a primary or anode winding and ajgrid-winding, all l'three of which are inductively coupled'by said ironcore; a thermionictube including an anode, a cathode, I and p ja control .'grid,.. means .for heating saidrcathodeia gird circuit "circuit'exl tending frcrnugsaidegridA andincluding said grid windingand ya connection to `said cathode; acommutator carrying a plurality of sets 0f Contact segments, the segments* of each jsetl beingA ,ofi a diierent 'length #from "that oftheothersy 'a col-` lector ring electrically connected `to the YSeglllents infallsaidsets, a brush connectedto-vsaidl primary or anode winding andibearing-onsaidcollector ringan individual jbrush foreach of saidv s sets, each bearingY on `said]commiitator -in fthe path traversed by the segments infits set, l means for rotating said commutator ata constant rate of speed, a series of contactpcintsconnectedlto said individual brushes; and kswitching means cooperating wth said contact pointsandfconnected to -saidfsourc'e1 of current A'for completingfthe circuit from 4the `anode Ito `said source, wherebyl an operator may selectively set said switch to select any of said sets of segments for controlling the timing of the energization of said anode circuit.

2. In an electro-therapeutic device, an iron core induction transformer `having a secondary winding to which applicators are to be connected,

a grid winding inductively coupled to said secondary bysaid core, an anode winding induci thereby institute varying magnetomotive forces in the core of said transformer, a constant speed motor-driven commutator including a plurality of sets of contact segments, the segments in each set being of lengths different from the lengths of the others, said commutator being connected to said second circuit, and means for selectively placing any of said sets in seriesin said second circuit for timing the periods in which said inagnetomotive forces are instituted in said second circuit.

3. In an` electro-therapeutic device, an iron core induction transformer having a secondary winding to which applicators are to be connected, a grid winding inductively coupled via said iron inductively coupled via Vsaidiron `core to said grid winding; a thermionic tube including an anode, a cathode, and a control grid; means for' i supplying energy to said cathode, connections between said cathode and said grid winding and continuing to said grid, a connection from'said anode to one end orsaid anode winding, other connections between the other end of said anode winding anda source of current, said connections including parameters whereby said tube will loscillate at a predetermined low periodicity and cause varying magnetomotive forces in thecore of said transformer, a commutator carrying a plurality of sets of contact segmentsa collector ring on said commutator electrically connected `to the segments inall said sets, a brush bearing on said collectorring and forming part of saidv connections, individual brushes for said sets each bearing on said commutator in the path traversed bythe segments in its set, means for driving said commutator, and switching means connected ben tween said brushesand said source of current for completing the anode circuit, whereby an operator may selectively set said switching means in accordance with a desired timing of the ow of said varying magnetomotive forces in said transformer core.y

' MARGARET GROSSE.

ALFRED ROBERTS.

core to said secondary, and an anode winding 

